News Articles

March 28, 2019

Ben Williams, VMNH Science Administrator, carries his feathered friend out of the Rockfish Valley Natural History Center located in Nellysford, Virginia today. This and other VMNH taxidermy mounts had been on loan to the natural history center, which participates in VMNH's Museum Affiliation Program.

March 28, 2019

A game of tug of war breaks out during Spring Break Day Camp!

March 28, 2019

Special behind-the-scenes tours take place Saturday, April 13!

March 27, 2019

Please note that the museum will close at noon on SATURDAY, APRIL 20 in preparation for the annual Grapes & Grains fundraising event. Set-up for the event will begin that morning and will result in impeded access to some of the museum's exhibits. Tickets remain available for Grapes & Grains wine tasting event, which also includes heavy hors d'oeuvres by Center Stage Catering, live music by singer/songwriter Eric Larsen, and an auction featuring a variety of items, including luxury furniture. Tickets can be purchased online at www.vmnh.net/grapes-and-grains or at the museum box office.

March 27, 2019

Campers had a blast yesterday during the museum's first-ever Spring Break Day Camp! Campers designed and built crazy contraptions, created slime, explored the flora and fauna of nearby Wilson Park, and got to meet the museum's own live animals! Registration for Spring Break camps has ended, but we have an entire lineup of Summer Adventure Camps taking place this June and July! Check-out the lineup of camps for ages 3-11 on the museum's website...registration is now open! (www.vmnh.net/summer-adventure-camps)

March 26, 2019

The Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation hosted the 32nd Annual Thomas Jefferson Awards at Natural Bridge State Park on Thursday, March 21. The awards ceremony is a statewide event that honors individuals and corporations for outstanding contributions to natural science, natural science education, and conservation. Gerald V. Gibbs, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, was the recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science. The award is presented to an individual who has consistently made outstanding contributions to natural history. Brooke Haiar, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Lynchburg, was the recipient ...

March 24, 2019

VMNH research associate, Dr. DorothyBelle Poli, along with students enrolled in her plant diversity and evolution class at Roanoke College, returned to Martinsville yesterday to continue an inventory of trees in J. Frank Wilson Park, which is adjacent to the museum. The students are measuring trees, identifying them, and using GPS technology to map their locations. Dr. Nancy Moncrief, VMNH curator of mammals, Dr. Kal Ivanov, VMNH assistant curator of invertebrate zoology, and members of the Southwestern Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists, helped in the efforts. The results of the inventory will be featured within the museum's Jean S. Adams Education Pavilion, which is scheduled to be complete in Spring 2020.

March 22, 2019

Our amazing lineup of Summer Adventure Camps has been released!

March 20, 2019

Gloria Niblett (right), director of administration and services, congratulates Glynda Cassady, procurement manager, for 15 years of state service. Glynda began her career at the museum on March 25, 2004. Congratulations and thank you for your service, Glynda!

March 19, 2019

Smart Beginnings of Martinsville-Henry County was at the museum today for a 50th Birthday Celebration of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"! Eric Carle's classic children's picture book features a caterpillar who eats his way through a wide variety of foodstuffs before emerging as a butterfly! The children participated in crafts, saw caterpillar and butterfly displays, and - of course - ate cupcakes!

March 18, 2019

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, MARCH 21! Science experiments, nature exploration, games and crafts! Spring Break at the Virginia Museum of Natural History is a fast-paced, inquisitive adventure like none other for children ages 6 to 11! Take a step back in time - way back in time - to the age of dinosaurs! Explore the magnificent diversity of flora and fauna in nearby Wilson Park! Concoct your very own scientific experiments deep within the bowels of the museum!

March 17, 2019

Dozens of Scouts from Charlottesville visited the museum this weekend for a paleontology-themed sleepover! The Scouts participated in a variety of hands-on activities, as they learned what a paleontologist is and the type of skills paleontologists implement on a daily basis! The night also included a scavenger hunt, movie time, a pizza dinner, and - of course - a night sleeping among the dinosaurs! Interested in having your Scouts, students or other group experience a museum sleepover? Contact the museum at discover@vmnh.virginia.gov or 276-634-4185 to learn about all of the possibilities we offer!

March 17, 2019

VMNH research associate, Dr. DorothyBelle Poli, along with students in her plant diversity class at Roanoke College, visited Martinsville on Saturday to begin an inventory of trees in J. Frank Wilson Park, which is adjacent to the museum. Dr. Nancy Moncrief, VMNH curator of mammals, along with members of the Southwestern Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists, including Ivan Hiett, Jim Tobin, Chad Rhoads, and Kathy Fell, helped in the efforts to identify and map the trees in the park. The results of the inventory will be featured within the museum's Jean S. Adams Education Pavilion, which is scheduled to be complete in Spring 2020.

March 15, 2019

There are many people who play a major role in the research and collections initiatives of the museum. Attendees of the March edition of "2nd Thursday Science Talks" had the opportunity to meet several of these key staff members. During yesterday's 'Science Talk', VMNH Research Technicians Liberty Hightower, Lucy Treado and Ray Vodden gave attendees an overview of the work that they do inside the museum's paleontology and recent invertebrates labs and collections areas. Attendees were able to step inside these areas and learn first-hand about the work VMNH research technicians are involved with on a daily basis! Don't miss the April edition of "2nd Thursday Science Talks", when Dr. Kal Ivanov, assistant curator of ...

March 12, 2019

Dr. Kal Ivanov, assistant curator of invertebrate zoology, is currently attending the 90th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America as both a participant and as a presenter. The meeting is taking place in Blacksburg, Virginia from March 9-12. On Sunday, Dr. Ivanov, along with VMNH Research Associate Curt Harden, gave a talk regarding a research project focusing on the subterranean ant and beetle diversity of Virginia and West Virginia. On Monday, Dr. Ivanov presented "Not just a load of dead insects" at the student organized symposium in collaboration with the Early Career Professionals. A major goal of the symposium is to provide graduate students with the opportunity to learn about ...

March 7, 2019

Deadline to register is March 19!

March 6, 2019

CAREER OPPORTUNITY: Budget and Finance Manager The museum is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Budget and Finance Manager. The individual would manage the museum's budget of ~$3 million and supervise fiscal and purchasing personnel. Learn more about the position at www.vmnh.net/careers!

March 6, 2019

The Virginia Museum of Natural History is now accepting applications for the position of Budget & Finance Manager.